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MainStreet manager announces departure

SILVER CITY — Nick Seibel, manager of the Silver City MainStreet Project for nearly three years, has announced his resignation.

Seibel took over the post in July 2010 from Frank Milan, who served for more than seven years. The MainStreet program is a grassroots statewide initiative to revitalize downtowns. Silver City has been part of the MainStreet program since its inception 28 years ago.

MainStreet was a bit of a family tradition for Seibel, whose mother, Debbie Seibel, was MainStreet manager from 1993 to 1995, according to her son.

"Really, my involvement in the community started with MainStreet when I was in high school," he said. "So, it was great to come back to the community and help spearhead some of the great things going on downtown."

In his time away, Seibel earned a degree in geography from University of Arizona , where he also studied community planning.

Of the things MainStreet accomplished during his tenure, Seibel is proud of the gateway arch's installation on Broadway and the establishment of the monthly AmBank First Fridays but is especially proud of all the work they group has done in regard to the Silco Theater.

"Getting a movie theater back downtown and to have that project on track to happen this summer is huge," said Seibel. "That has the potential to impact the community as much as anything MainStreet has ever done."

He is just as proud of the way MainStreet is doing things now as he is of the things they've done.

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"What I'm most proud of is that in the last few years, we've been able to make MainStreet really collaborative," he said. "We're now working with the Tour of the Gila, the Wellness Coalition, the Farmers Market, WNMU and the downtown merchants. In a small community, working together is really how you get things done. I think the groundwork is laid for those partnerships to continue on."

Seibel said he had enjoyed his years as manager and was pleased with the work the group was able to accomplish. It was just time to move on.

"It was an awesome almost three years," he said. "Opportunities just arose I couldn't ignore. I have also always said I would leave the job when I still enjoyed it."

He isn't worried at all about the MainStreet Project in the future.

"MainStreet's been around for 28 years," Seibel said. "It was around for 25 years before me and it will go on for 25 years after I'm gone. MainStreet is so much bigger than one person. I think they'll go on to even bigger and better things."

While Seibel was quiet about specific plans, there are some avenues he's looking forward to seeing open with his departure.

"I've certainly enjoyed being part of MainStreet," he said, "but not being part of it opens up a lot of volunteer and possibly political options in the future."

One thing is for sure, though — he isn't going anywhere.

"I'm definitely planning on staying in the community," Seibel said. "This is home. This is where I grew up. There really isn't any place I'd rather be."

As far as MainStreet's immediate future, that is up to the board.

"The way MainStreet is set up is it has a board of directors," said board president Lucy Whitmarsh. "As the board of directors, we're taking on the responsibilities of MainStreet to operate it right now. Then, we'll try to determine what skills we need for the position. Once we do that, we'll begin looking for someone to fill the position with those skills."